Boston Massachusetts Museums

Boston

Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum
Relive the historical Boston Tea Party with a visit to this ship replica and museum. The museum has straightforward exhibits that explore the actions leading up to the Boston Tea Party and the event's historical significance. Patriot's dumped tea out of the historic boat to protest taxation without representation. The Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum, located on Congress Street Bridge, is open from March 1 to Dec. 1. Contact the museum at (617) 338-1773 for more details.

Institute of Contemporary Art
Since 1936, the Institute of Contemporary Art has introduced contemporary artists such as Andy Warhol and Cindy Sherman to Boston. It also makes its own videos about the artists and exhibitions. ICA currently has more than 150 artists featured in 38 videos. The Institute's Vita Brevis program commissions artists to produce art inspired by Boston for temporary display throughout the city. The Institute is located at 955 Boylston St. in Boston. For information about rates and hours, call (617) 266-5152.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, located at 280 The Fenway, is a tribute to its namesake's eclectic tastes. In 1924, Isabella Stewart Gardner donated it to Boston under the condition that its permanent collection remains unaltered. The museum - located in a 15th-century, Venetian-style palace - has three floors of fine and decorative art, including works from Rembrandt and Michelangelo. It is a unique art-viewing experience that includes a magnificent courtyard. For information about admission rates and museum hours, call (617) 566-1401.

John F. Kennedy Library and Museum
The John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, housed in a building designed by famed architect I.M. Pei, is an impressive structure both inside and out. The museum explores President Kennedy's life, political career, and historical era. The library provides extensive research material on the same subjects. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the research library is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays only. Please contact the museum at (877) 616-4599 for admission rates and holiday closings.

Museum of Afro American History
The Museum is internationally known for the African Meeting House, Abiel Smith School, and the Black Heritage Trail in Boston. The 1.6-mile Black Heritage Trail connects 14 of the museum's sites in Boston. Visitors can take a self-guided walking tour or a guided tour. The museum's focus is the contributions of African-Americans in colonial New England. Admission is free, but donations are graciously accepted. The museum is based at Joy Street and Smith Court in the Beacon Hill area of Boston. For more information, contact the museum at (617) 225-0022.

Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts, located at 465 Huntington Ave. in Boston, has some of the most magnificent art collections in the world. Both art connoisseurs and layman enjoy the exhibits. This museum has varied visual delights, from the largest collection of Monet paintings outside of Paris to a world-renowned Egyptian collection. The museum constantly reinvents itself for guests with new exhibits. It is worth a visit every trip to Boston. The museum has limited parking, and it is recommended that visitors take the bus or subway during special exhibitions. For more information about musuem rates and variable hours, call (617) 267-9300.

Museum of Science
The Museum of Science is located in Museum of Science Park, right in downtown Boston. The museum is easily accessible from the subway, but it has a parking garage for those who prefer to drive. It offers new exhibits constantly, but a few steady favorites are the Planetarium, Laser, and Mugar Omni Theatre shows. It also houses a fascinating, full-size replica of Tyrannosaurus rex. All exhibits focus on educating people about science and technology in an interesting manner. Admission prices vary according to whether visitors will be viewing a show or not. Contact the Museum of Science at (617) 723-2500 for more information.

New England Aquarium
The Giant Ocean Tank, a 200,000-gallon reservoir filled with over 800 sea animals, is this aquarium's centerpiece. At every level of the New England Aquarium, guests can peer into one of the tank's 52 windows and view sea life only a scuba diver normally witnesses. The aquarium features numerous other attractions, including a live penguin pool, sea otters, whale-watching excursions, and an IMAX Theatre. The aquarium is located in Central Wharf, and is accessible by subway or car. Please call the aquarium at (617) 973-5200 for more information about rates and hours.

The Children's Museum
The Children's Museum, located at 300 Congress St. in Boston, is rated one of the top three children's museums in the nation. It was one of the first museums to offer interactive exhibitions to children. Exhibits center around four main themes: arts, culture, science, and technology. One exhibit, known as the Japanese House, is a replica of a silk merchant's house in Kyoto, Japan. In accordance with Japanese tradition, children must take their shoes off before entering the house. Once inside, they can explore the cupboards, learn about Japanese family life and ceremonies, and even become skilled at using chopsticks. Admission to the Museum varies according to age; the most expensive is $8 for adults. Contact the museum at (617) 426-8855 for more information about the museum's rates and hours.

Cambridge

Harvard Museum of Natural History and Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology
These two museums are connected, and one admission grants access to both of them. Entrances are located at 11 Divinity Ave. or 26 Oxford St. in Cambridge. The Harvard Museum of Natural History presents exhibitions and educational programs regarding science and nature to the public. The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology focuses on anthropology and human cultural history. It is strongly suggested that visitors use public transportation to visit the museums because parking is very limited. For information about rates and hours, contact the museums at (617) 495-3045 (HMNH) or (617) 496-1027 (Peabody Museum).

North of Boston

Beauport Museum (Sleeper-McCann House)
Henry Davis Sleeper built and decorated this fantasy house that overlooks Gloucester Harbor. Sleeper was an eminent collector and interior designer in the 1920s and 1930s. The American and European objects within the 40 rooms were collected and arranged by Sleeper himself. The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA) owns and operates Beauport Museum, which is located at 75 Eastern Point Blvd. For information about the museum's schedule and admission rates, call (978) 283-0800.

Hammond Castle Museum
The Hammond Castle Museum, located at 80 Hesperus Ave. in Gloucester, was once home to Dr. John Hayes Hammond. It houses the Hammond Research Corp. Dr. Hammond, known as the "Father of the Remote Control," is second to Thomas Edison for number of invention patents. The castle, built in the 1920s, features remarkable Roman, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts. Visitors are allowed a self-guided tour of a passage, eight large rooms, several smaller rooms, and the castle's grounds. Call (978) 281-4099 for details about rates and hours.